Places to see Around Niagara Falls. Things to do.

There is a lot of stuff to do in Niagara Water Falls. One can get amuse by the Niagara Falls beauty, but also can have amazing fun getting around the falls. Most visitors' first view of the Falls, from the Canadian side of the river, is at Queen Victoria Park, along the Niagara Falls Parkway. This grand, royal garden provides the perfect vantage point for experiencing both the nightly illumination of the Falls and the summer fireworks displays. The Falls are illuminated, every evening until approximately midnight and there are Fireworks over the Falls, Friday and Sunday nights in the summer months. 

Niagara Parks offers a Great Gorge Adventure Pass, that includes access to the Maid of the Mist, Journey Behind the Falls, White Water Walk, and the Butterfly Conservatory, a one-day WEGO pass and discounts for other attractions. Pass components do not have to be used on the same day. In general, it takes about 6 hours to complete the main attactions on the pass. One way to use the pass is to do the Maid of the Mist and Journey Behind the Falls on one day, and use the one-day WEGO pass to do the White Water Walk, Butterfly Conservatory/Botanical Gardens, and Aero Car (all of which are near each other, but farther from the Falls) on the second day.

• Maid of the Mist - A boat that takes tourists to the foot of the falls, where you can better appreciate their thunder and spray. Runs April-October. Boats depart every 15 minutes and the ride is 30 minutes. Line-ups for this attraction can be quite long, try later in the day (1 hour or so before the last boat leaves) for a shorter wait. Many people use their digital cameras to take pictures, but they will get wet. Waterproof disposable cameras are offered for sale before boarding.
• Journey Behind the Falls - This is an interesting attraction to consider in lieu of Maid of the Mist (or when Maid of the Mist isn't operating). Although popular, the lines aren't nearly as long for "Journey" as they are for Maid of the Mist, and therefore may be a better option on crowded days, or for those traveling with small children. Ponchos are provided, as the Journey still offers participants the chance to feel the "spray" of the Falls, from portholes opening behind the Falls themselves. An informative guided tour that still provides some--but not all--of the thrills of the other attractions. Open year-round except 25 December. Whilst this attraction remains open during winter, often some of the viewing points are in-accessable due to snow build up.
• White Water Walk -  A 1,000-ft (305 m) boardwalk beside the rapids. Open seasonally.
• Whirlpool Aero Car - Cable car ride over the Niagara Whirlpool. Open March - November.
• Marineland Theme Park - Dolphin, sea lion and walrus shows, and numerous exhibits of interesting and unique marine animals, including killer whales, beluga whales, and black bears. For an additional fee, you can feed some of the animals, including the beluga whales. Also offers a variety of amusement park rides, such as Sky Screamer, billed as the world's tallest three-tower ride, which elevates riders high enough to see Niagara Falls.
• Skylon Tower - 520-ft (160 m) tower that has an observation deck and revolving restaurant with a great view of the falls. There are arcade games in the base. Summer hours 8AM-midnight, winter 11AM-9PM.
• Niagara Skywheel - Ferris-wheel-like, with air-conditioned/heated pods and views of the Falls and surrounding skyline. 10-minute ride.
• Clifton Hill Amusement Area - A hill, and a street, full of exciting and fun tourist attractions such as wax museums, Ripley's Believe it or Not, haunted houses, and gift shops.
• Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens - It is 9 km/6 mi north of the Falls. Open daily year-round, dawn until dusk. 100 acres of 20th century themed gardens, a magnificent arboretum, as well as North America's largest butterfly conservatory. At their best in the summer. Free admission.
• Butterfly Conservatory - 9 km/6 mi north of the Falls, within the Botanical Gardens). Over 2,000 butterflies in an enclosed garden - great photo ops. Open year-round except 25 December.
• Brick City - Tremendous Lego city built entirely by one man.
• Floral clock - A clock made entirely of flowers.
• Queenston Heights Park - This park includes the Brock and Laura Secord Monuments. It is also an end point of the Bruce Trail, which winds it way northward over 800 km (497 mi) to Tobermory.
• Winter Festival of Lights - Area around the Falls. A 5 km/3 mi route along the Niagara Parkway featuring over three million sparkling tree and ground lights and over 120 lighting displays.
• Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours - Niagara Glen departure point (approx. 8 km/5 mi from the Falls). The tours operating from Niagara Glen use the JetDome boat, which is enclosed and keeps you dry as the boat navigates the whitewater rapids. For the more traditional 'gets-you-soaking-wet' jet boat tour, you will need to use the Niagara-on-the-Lake departure point. Apr-Oct.
• Helicopter tours over the Falls and surrounding area are available from a number of operators. Niagara Helicopters Limited, 3731 Victoria Ave, +1 905 357-5672, weflyyou@niagarahelicopters.com, is one option.
• Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, 6380 Fallsview Blvd, +1 888-FALLSVU (toll-free). A Vegas-style Casino.
• Casino Niagara, 5705 Falls Ave (near Clifton Hill), +1 905 374-3598 or +1 888-946-3255 (toll-free). The old but nice casino.
• Greg Frewin Dinner Theatre, +1 866-779-8778, tickets@gregfrewintheatre.com. Illusionist Greg Frewin presents his Las Vegas style magic show.
• Get married: The City of Niagara Falls issues marriage licences at the City Clerk's Office, 4310 Queen St, +1 905 356-7521 ext. 4283. The fee is $100. There is no waiting period. No ceremonies are performed at City Hall. Niagara Parks has information about weddings, receptions, and wedding photography near the Falls.
• If you're on your honeymoon, you can get an Official City of Niagara Falls Honeymoon Certificate from the Niagara Falls Tourism Office, 5400 Robinson St.
• Fallsview Indoor Waterpark - This is Niagara Falls Indoor Water Park at 125,000 square feet. The water park features 16 slides, up to six stories high, full-size wavepool and outdoor year-round pool. The Fallview Indoor Waterpark is directly connected to the Sheraton on the Falls Hotel, Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls - Fallsview Hotel and the Skyline Inn Niagara Falls.

Also, don't forget the wine tours. Niagara Falls has recently boomed with vineyards due to the increasing popularity of ice wines. If you've never tasted these, they alone are worth the time. They are thick and sweet much like the muscats and ports, but without the afterbite. They are processed in freezing temperatures in very early morning hours and only with "approved" grapes.

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